
Jhanas
Jhana is the Pali word for mental or meditative absorption, and in Buddhist meditation, the jhanas refer to states of deep concentration attainable through practice.

In an excerpt from her forthcoming book, Buddhist scholar Sarah Shaw discusses varying methods for breathing mindfulness.

Breathing Mindfulness
Scholar Sarah Shaw lays out a comprehensive introduction to the tradition of breathing mindfulness—and examines why the tradition of samatha, or calm, meditation has been marginalized and suppressed.

How Deep Is Jhana?
A skirmish in the Jhana Wars

Access to Absorption
A Theravada teacher on achieving the prerequisite mental state for deeper meditation.

On Ajaan Lee’s ‘Keeping the Breath in Mind’
Theravada monk Thanissaro Bhikkhu on the timeless importance of a classic Forest Tradition meditation guide.

The Joy of Jhana
An excerpt of a conversation on Tricycle Talks

Awakening through the Jhanas
On an episode of Tricycle Talks, scholar Sarah Shaw explains why these often overlooked meditation states are so important.

Sarah Shaw on the Jhanas and Awakening Through Joy
In this episode of Tricycle Talks, scholar Sarah Shaw discusses the ritual, somatic, and devotional aspects of Theravada practice that are often overlooked.

The Jhana Underground
The mid-20th century Theravada reforms favored vipassana (insight) over samatha (concentration) and the altered mind-state of the jhanas associated with it. What the sangha didn’t know was that six thousand miles away, a hitchhiking ex-monk, reformed…

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